Method for administering injectable liquids



Feb. 17, 19 70 c. J. WILSON 3,495,591 I METHOD FOR ADMINISTERINGINJEGTABLE LIQUIDS Filed May 8, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 (#42465 J Ma .50

BY ATTORNEYS Feb. 17,1970 c. .J. WILSON 3,495,591 I METHOD FORADMINISTERINQ INJECTABLE LIQUIDS I med May a, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet zINVENTOR. f/mkzas .1 H4450 AW fix; I ATTORNEYS] United States Patent3,495,591 IVLETHOD FOR ADMINISTERING INJECTABLE LIQUIDS Charles J.Wilson, 1626 N. Prospect, Milwaukee, Wis. 53202 Filed May 8, 1967, Ser.No. 636,932 Int. Cl. A61m /24; A61j 1/06 US. Cl. 128-218 4 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method is provided whereby a transparentcartridge containing injectable liquid is pre-packaged under a negativepressure to afford completely automatic aspiration when used in asyringe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This inventionrelates generally to carpules and more particularly to pre-packagedcartridges filled with injectable liquid for injection.

Description of the prior art It is known in the art to provide bloodsample collection apparatus with evacuated vials so that a blood samplewill be drawn upon inserting a syringe into a blood vessel. See Us.Patents 3,141,460 and 3,143,109.

It is also known in the art to aspirate a syringe before injectingliquid medicine subcutaneously to avoid accidental adverse reactions toinjectableliquids such as drugs or anesthetic. One such reaction may becaused, for example, by the injection of a liquid directly into thelumen of a blood vessel. For example, if a cardiac patient were toreceive an injection of a liquid anesthetic directly into a vein orartery, a fatal stimulation may occur.

Prior art practitioners have attempted to solve the problem bymechanical aspiration devices of various yp For example, the plunger ofa syringe is pushed by thumb pressure against the cartridge piston of acarpule after the point of the needle has been inserted into the tissueof the patient. This forces the diaphragm at the front end of thecartridge against the rear end of the needle. Since the pressurerequired to move the sealing piston into the cartridge is greater thanthe pressure required for the needle to pierce the diaphragm, the rearend of the needle penetrates the diaphragm so that the hollow of theneedle then communicates with the interior of the cartridge.

A small harpoon or hook formed on the end of the plunger is depressedinto the piston, so that a reverse pressure on the plunger has theeffect of pulling the piston 'backwardly slightly to cause a negativepressure in the cartridge for purposes of aspiration.

Several difficulties are encountered in attempting to use mechanicalaspiration. One such difficulty arises in pulling the plunger andsealing piston backward by thumb pressure after the preliminary quantityof drugs has been discharged from the cartridge. While the thumb canexert great pressure when acting in the direction of the forefinger, itis extremely difiicult to apply a pressure in the opposite direction.Furthermore, the effort required may cause movement of the entiresyringe including the needle while it is embedded in the tissue. Also,as the plunger and the sealing piston are being pulled backwardly tocreate a vacuum in the cartridge for the visual blood check the plungermay be pulled back so far that the piston comes out of the cartridgebody.

3,495,591 Patented Feb. 17, 1970 Other prior art practitioners have usedsupplemental vacuum generators in combination with syringes. Suchdevices cannot be used with conventional syringes and oftentimes requireprovision of clumsy cumbersome devices which are diflicult to operate.See US. Patents 2,771,879, 2,971,509 and 3,089,489.

A serious deficiency of any mechanical aspirator, of course, is inherentin the fact that the operator may inadvertently overlook the need ofaspiration or may negligently avoid the use thereof.

It is contemplated by the present invention that a prepackaged carpuleor transparent cartridge containing injecta'ble liquid be packaged andmaintained under a discreet negative pressure. Thus, as one end of thecarpule or cartridge is punctured by the rear end of the needle orcannula it is immediately and automatically subjected to a negativepressure condition, and if the point of the needle or cannula is lodgedin a blood Vessel a quantity of blood is immediately drawn into thecartridge as a telltale where it can be readily observed.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide animproved method for administering injectable liquids.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a front elevational viewof a plunger-type syringe constructed in accordance with the principlesof the present invention and having a pre-packaged injecta'bleliquid-containing cartridge placed Within the barrel of the cartridgeand showing the plunger in a fully retracted position.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of a needle assembly ofthe syringe.

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the syringe with the needle assemblyremoved and with the barrel cocked to permit breech-loading of acartridge.

FIGURES 4 and 5 are respectively elevational front and end views of acarpule Or cartridge constructed in accordance with this invention andpre-packaged under negative pressure.

FIGURES 6a-6c show the syringe in different stages in the administeringof an injectable liquid with the tissue situs shown in cross-section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention providesthe advantages of completely automatic aspiration with any conventionalsyringe structure.

Referring to FIGURES 1-3, a typical plunger-type syringe with which theprinciples of this invention may be practiced is indicated generally atreference numeral 10 and comprises a tubular housing or barrel 11, aneedle assembly 12 at one end of the barrel 11, a spool finger grip 13at the other end of the barrel 11 and a plunger 14 mounted for movementinto and out of the barrel 11. A thumb ring 16 is formed at the distalend of the plunger 14 to receive the thumb of the user, and finger grip13 is spool-shaped to receive the fore and middle fingers of the users.

The needle assembly 12 comprises a body 15 internally threaded to bescrewed onto a threaded stub 17 projecting from the needle end of thebarrel 11. A cannula or hollow needle 18 extends through the body 15 andis pointed at a forward end 19 to reduce the force necessary to insertthe tip of the needle into the tissue. A rear end 20 of the needleextends substantially beyond the body 15 and may also be pointed ifdesirable to facilitate puncture of the cartridge diaphragm as Willbecome apparent hereinafter.

The syringe 10 is of the cocking type, that is, the plunger 14 ismounted for articulation with respect to the barrel 11 to enable thedrug-containing cartridge to be inserted into a rear or loading end 21of the barrel. The present invention, however, is applicable to all ofthe plunger-type syringes which accommodate the prepackaged cartridgesregardless of the means by which the cartridge is loaded into thesyringe.

In the illustrated embodiment a bifurcated bracket 22 extends from thefinger grip 13 and comprises a pair of aligned pins as at 23 received incomplemental bores formed in the barrel 11 for accommodating pivotalmovement of the barrel with respect to the finger grip 13 and theplunger 14.

A plurality of openings or windows as indicated at 24 and 26 are formedin the barrel 11 to enable the user to see into the barrel. An enlargedhead 27 is formed at the inner end of the plunger 14 and a threadedinsert 28 is received in a complementarily threaded bore formed in thefinger grip 13. A portion of the insert 28 may be knurled or splined asat 29 to facilitate threading of the insert. The barrel 11 can only becocked as shown in FIGURE 3 'when the head portion 27 is withdrawncompletely out of the barrel 11, and such complete withdrawal of thehead portion 27 is possible only when the insert 28 has been threadedoutwardly to the position thereof shown in FIGURE 3.

Referring to FIGURES 4 and a capsule o1- cartridge constructed accordingto the principles of this invention is indicated generally at referencenumeral 30. The capsule or cartridge comprises a tubular enclosure wall31 having a reduced diameter neck 32 and an enlarged head 33. Thecartridge 30 is substantially filled with an injectable liquid 34 and arear end 36 of the cartridge 30 is closed by means of a resilientlyexpansible seal piston or stopper 37 and a front end or nose 38 isclosed by a needle-pervious self-sealing wall member 39. The piston 37may be made of rubber and the needle-pervious wall member 39 mayconstitute a rubber diaphram.

In filling and sealing the cartridge 30, the liquid 34 is filled andconfined within the interior of the cartridge :under a negativepressure. The piston or stopper 37 efiectively seals the liquid to storethe same under a vacuum condition within the cartridge 30. It iscontemplated that the quantum of negative pressure be within the rangenormally produced by mechanical aspiration since it would not benecessary to attain negative pressures in an amount provided in bloodsamples collection evacuated vials.

In use, the barrel 11 of the syringe is first cocked as shown in FIGURE3 and a cartridge 30 exhibiting the characteristics of this invention isloaded head first into the barrel 11. The barrel is then articulatedinto the aligned position thereof shown in FIGURE 1 and the insert 28threaded into the finger grip 13 to lock the barrel 11 in place. Thecartridge 30 then resides within the barrel 11 in the position thereofshown in FIGURE 1. The user then places the fore and middle fingers ofthe hand across the spool finger grip 13 and the thumb through the ring16.

With the plunger 14 still in a retracted position, the needle 18 isinserted into the tissue situs by penetrating the epidermis and making asubcutaneous placement of the end of the cannula. Thumb pressure is thenapplied to the plunger 14 to move the plunger head 27 into abuttingengagement with the sealing piston 37. Further pressure on the plunger14 moves the cartridge forwardly until the diaphragm 39 abuts the rearend 20 of the needle 18.

An added force is then applied to the plunger 14 to cause the rear end20 of the needle to pierce the diaphragm 39 and as this occurs thehollow of the needle 18 is immediately subjected to a negative pressurewithout any further mechanical actuation whatsoever. If the point 19 ofthe needle 18 is improperly placed in the lumen of a blood vessel astream of blood will be drawn into the cartridge 30. The wall 31 of thecartridge is at least partly constructed of glass, clear plastic orother transparent material so that the traces of blood within thecartridge will constitute a tell-tale and can be easily observed by theuser.

Assuming no traces of blood are seen within the cartridge 30, the userapplies additional thumb pressure to the plunger 14 to push the sealingpiston 37 toward the head portion 33 of the cartridge 30, thus expellingthe drugs 34 from the cartridge, through the hollow of the needle 18 andinto the tissue. In this respect it is noted that the diameter of theplunger head portion 27 is less than the diameter of the piston 37 sothat it may travel into the tubular wall 31, and it is further notedthat the needle 18 and the cartridge 30 are constructed and arranged sothat the force required for the rear end 20 of the needle 18 to pierceand penetrate the diaphragm 39 is less than that required to push thepiston 37 into the tubular wall 31.

FIGURES 6a-6c illustrate the relative disposition of the parts of thesyringe in various stages of an injection. In FIGURE 6a the needle 18has been inserted into tissue 40. Unbeknowst to the user, however, thepoint 19 is lodged in the lumen of a blood vessel 41. This fact is madeknown, however, as soon as the rear end of the needle punctures andpenetrates the diaphragm 39 of the cartridge 30 since tell-tale tracesof blood as indicated at 42 are observed within the cartridge and cloudthe contents of the carpule with a distinctive blood red color. Theneedle 18 is then removed from the tissue 40 and a fresh cartridge isloaded into the syringe 10.

FIGURE 6b illustrates the needle 18 again inserted into the tissue 40but this time the point of the needle is not lodged in a blood vessel.Thus, as the plunger 14 is depressed and the rear end 20 of the needle18 punctures the diaphragm 39, automatic aspiration again takes placewithout any special eflort on the part of the user. In this instanceplacement of the cannula is proper if no traces of blood are observed inthe cartridge 30 through the window 24. The plunger 14 is then furtherdepressed as shown in FIGURE 60 to expel the liquid 34 from thecartridge 30 through the hollow of the needle 18 and into the tissue 40.

It is thus apparent that the present invention enables the user of thesyringe to check placement of the cannula automatically withoutresorting to mechanical aspirating techniques of any kind.

Injection terminology uses expressions such as subcutaneous, meaningwithin the cutaneous tissues; intradermal, meaning within the epidermis,and intravenous, meaning within a vein. Aspiration is required in alltypes of injections. In a subcutaneous injection aspiration insuresplacement outside of a blood Vessel. Those versed in the art willresognize that the present invention may also be useful in assuring theuser that an intravenous injection is properly placed inside the bloodvessel.

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in theart, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope ofthe patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably comewithin the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention: 1. The use of a pre-packaged carpule containinga supply of injectable liquid which includes the steps of,

reducing the pressure in the carpule during packaging to a negativevalue so that the injectable liquid is permanently stored Within thecarpule under vacuum,

penetrating tissue to place one end of a cannula at a selected situs,and

concurrently communicating the other end of the cannula with theinterior of the carpule, thereby to automatically produce temporaryaspiration at the selected situs so that improper placement of said oneend of the cannula in a blood vessel will produce a tell-tale warning inthe carpule.

2. The use of a pre-packaged carpule with injectable liquids whichincludes the steps of,

confining a supply of liquid in a container under negative pressure, andsimultaneously cannulating a subcutaneous tissue situs and the containerwith a common cannula to temporarily subject the tissue situs to thenegative pressure of the supply of liquid so that blood from a vessel inthe situs Will be aspirated into the liquid supply as a tell-tale ofimproper cannula placement. 3. A method of injecting liquid intosubcutaneous tissue containing containing blood vessels which includesthe steps of,

(a) pre-packaging the liquid to be injected in a carpule under negativepressure, (b) inserting one end of a cannula into a subcutaneous tissuesitus, and (c) communicating the other end of the cannula with theinterior of the carpule, whereupon the cannula will automatically besubjected to a negative pressure for drawing blood from a blood vesselup through the cannula into the interior of the carpule in the event ofan improper placement of the cannula.

4. A method of intravenous injection of liquid which includes the stepsof,

(a) pre-packaging the liquid to be injected in a carpule under negativepressure, (b) inserting one end of a cannula into a vein, and

(c) communicating the other end of the cannula with the interior of thecarpule, whereupon the cannula will automatically be subjected to anegative pressure for drawing blood from a blood vessel up through thecannula into the interior of the carpule to indicate proper placement ofthe cannula in the vein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,718,603 6/1929 Smith.

2,655,919 10/1953 Goodstein et a1.

2,693,183 11/1954 Lockhart 128-216 2,771,879 11/1956 Salisbury 12821'62,837,093 6/1958 Tash.

2,895,474 7/1959 Reznek.

2,971,509 2/1961 Cohen 128216 3,089,489 5/1963 Dunmire 128216 3,141,4607/1964 Tsochatzopoulos 128276 3,143,109 8/1964 GeWertZ 1282 RICHARD A.GAUDET, Primary Examiner MARTIN F. MAJESTIC, Assistant Examiner U.S. C1.X.R. 128-272

